Robert Frank--The Americans

Initially, I was just excited to be going on a field trip to see a renowned photographer's work, but as I learned more about Frank's work, it became even more exciting. As you enter the exhibit these words are displayed against an entire wall, “I am always looking outside, trying to look inside, trying to say something that is true. But maybe nothing is really true. Except what’s out here. And what’s out there is always changing.” This quote by Frank made me consider his work on a deeper level, but also, mine as well. The quote left it to open to the imagination, the world is always changing, but what you can convey, is the photograph as you see the world.

Our guide told us that Frank's work on the Americans was not well-liked at first. His work showed America in a light that had never been showcased before. He went places no one dared to, he stepped outside the limits. This is what made him a fantastic photographer. He traveled over America from coast to coast to REALLY get the sense of the country.

One thing Brittany and I discussed while working our way through the showcase was the general wonderment of How in the world he was accepted in all of these places? How did he get so up close and personal with these people that he shared nothing in common with? How was he accepted as one of them? Frank ventured many places that, I would think, would be considered private. There were several pictures of Frank right in the midst of funerals in very close distance, these were private gatherings for mourning families that he made very public by publishing these photographs. There was only one photograph in which the subjects seemed to really notice Frank's prescence, this photograph was known as his favorite because he had it was like this awkward moment where you know you got caught.

My favorite picture was the one of a black woman holding a white child, there was just something completely gravitating about the picture. It was fascinating. I loved seeing Frank's contact sheets and his work prints, it showed how much he had to work with and the process of figuring out which images made the cut and which ones didn't. His choices were chosen for a reason important to him, and as I am getting more knowledge in photography, I am realizing how many choices the photographers have. I felt like with my knowledge, I could really appreciate his work more by looking at details such as the depth of field and positioning of the subjects, everything comes together to make his pictures what they were.

As we left and continued on to photograph outside, I felt less afraid to get close to people. I felt like I would do what it took to get, what I saw, the perfect picture.